NYCHA Open Space Study

Green spaces between and around the buildings in all NYCHA developments are the greatest asset of their planning. Initially designed with great intentionality and relevance to the residents, these spaces have transformed over time in their value and accessibility. Today, the public is familiar with NYCHA open space as a “problem,” including questionable security, steel fences, and dilapidated playgrounds. The next phase of reconsidering the open space is heavily invested in a community-based rethinking of the space, called Green Space Connections will be informed by an in-depth participatory design process, followed by a resident capacity-building program for continued activation of the revitalized spaces. The New York Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Design’s “Living in the Shade” undergraduate urban design studio uses these initiatives as a starting point to make proposals to assist in the ongoing research.